Could your grief be needing more support?

The PG-13 (Prolonged Grief Disorder scale) is a scale developed by Prigerson et al. (2009) that reflects the criteria for Prolonged Grief Disorder included in DSM-5-TR and ICD-11. It measures the most characteristic symptoms: intense yearning, difficulty accepting the loss, and impact on daily functioning.

It doesn't evaluate whether your grief is "normal" or "abnormal" — grief is always normal. It evaluates whether the intensity and duration of symptoms suggest that additional specialized support could be beneficial.

Important context: respond thinking about the past 30 days. If the loss was recent (less than 6 months), intense symptoms are expected and don't necessarily indicate prolonged grief.

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PG-13 — Prolonged Grief Scale

Based on the criteria of Prigerson et al. (2009) and validated across multiple cultures. Evaluates whether grief may be taking a form that could benefit from specialized support.

Validated by: Prigerson et al. (2009); DSM-5-TR

1. In the past month, how often have you experienced yearning, longing or missing the person who died?
2. Difficulty accepting the loss
3. Feeling emotionally numb or in shock since the loss
4. Difficulty trusting others since the loss
5. Bitterness or anger related to the loss
6. Difficulty moving on with your life (e.g. making new friends, pursuing interests)
7. Feeling emotionally distant or detached from others since the loss
8. Feeling that life is meaningless or empty without the person who died
9. Feeling that part of yourself has died since the loss
10. Difficulty imagining a fulfilling future without the person who died
11. Feeling stunned, dazed or emotionally numb since the loss
12. Difficulty believing that the person has truly died
13. How much have these symptoms interfered with your work, social activities, or other areas of functioning?
References

Frequently asked questions

How long is it "normal" to grieve?

There's no normal timeline. When symptoms are very intense and persist beyond 12 months without improvement, it can be helpful to talk with a professional.

What distinguishes normal grief from prolonged grief?

In typical grief, pain intensity gradually decreases. In prolonged grief, intensity doesn't decrease and daily functioning is significantly affected over an extended period.

Is there specific treatment for prolonged grief?

Yes. Prolonged Grief Therapy (PGT) by Shear et al. has the strongest evidence, combining psychoeducation with exposure and grief processing work.

Are my answers stored?

No. The test runs entirely in your browser.